Still not sure where to find carp – or how to catch them? Check out this video below, which will give you information on both catching and cooking carp. These fish tend to hang out in both shallow waters and deeper pools, with a great deal of variation between individual carp species. You can usually find carp in a river but knowing where to look in the river is your next challenge.

These regulations are rare, but worth paying attention to. Interestingly, though, some localities have regulations that limit what species of carp you can fish for. In some states like Louisiana, rivers are so overrun with carp that they are the only species you can find! However, there are some rivers in the Southwest, like the Rio Grande and Colorado, that have breeding populations of carp.Ĭarp populations are out of control in many places. You can even find carp in the Great Lakes! They can also be found in backwaters of major rivers, like the Missouri, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers. Most, however, are found in reservoirs where they were originally introduced to control vegetation. There are several species of carp, with each having its own preferences regarding habitat. No matter where you go or where you choose to fish in the United States, you are likely going to find a population of carp – at least in the eastern portions of the country. There are plenty of ways you can prepare carp to make them good to eat.

While you may be turning up your nose as you read this, thinking, “I’ll just stick to my salmon, haddock, thanks,” don’t be so quick to judge! There are plenty of delicious ways to cook carp – it’s just a matter of knowing what you are doing. In Asia, the carp is a primary source of food, while in Europe, carp are considered a highly sought-after sport fish. However, in other areas of the world, that’s far from the truth. They are seen as having very little food or even sporting value. Prolific breeders, carp can live in a variety of ecosystems, which is why they have become so common in the United States. They are big-lipped, large-muscled members of the minnow family, brought to Europe in 1227 and American in 1872. A large freshwater fish native to Asia, carp has long been thought of as an invasive “junk” species.

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